PremiumStratics VeteranStratics Legend

I am debateing on getting a shard transfer shield but I have a question or two about them and need to know answers before I get one.

First: If i get a shield lets say on Atlantic and select it for Catskills.. this means the shield that I get on Atlantic will take me to Catskills, I know that one. Now what I am not sure of.. is it says it's used once a month. Does this mean it needs to be locked down in house all the time for use? And/or does the shield come with me or just a token come out of the locked down shield? And finally... once Catskills is selected.. that is the ONLY token that you will get once a month out of the locked down shield?

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Once you have chosen the shard, it can't be changed.
The best way to get the worth out of the Shields is to have them on multiple shards.
Each going to a different shard in which you have Shields on.
This way you can jump around and not waste tokens.

I have had mine locked down, not sure if they will work if not locked down.

they must be locked down in a house to be used.
the tokens they produce only go one way.

what i do, and what i see most people do, is have all the shields they want for shards they want to go to AND THEIR HOME SHARD all on the wall at their house.

you collect the tokens, including your home shard token.
then you can go away AND get home again.

allways be sure to take a return ticket (token) with you when you go, haha

you could put a shield to your home shard to where ever you are going, but you would need to be able to lock it down in a house to use it.

just easier to put them all in your own house.

the shields do hold 10 tokens in them for you (as they accrue them) but i usually take them out monthly and put them in a chest i have there for them.
then when i wanna go visit somewhere else i grab up whatever shards tokens i want and one to get home and away i go.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

I am debateing on getting a shard transfer shield but I have a question or two about them and need to know answers before I get one.

First: If i get a shield lets say on Atlantic and select it for Catskills.. this means the shield that I get on Atlantic will take me to Catskills, I know that one. Now what I am not sure of.. is it says it's used once a month. Does this mean it needs to be locked down in house all the time for use? And/or does the shield come with me or just a token come out of the locked down shield? And finally... once Catskills is selected.. that is the ONLY token that you will get once a month out of the locked down shield?

Hope this makes sence.

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I tried hard asking the Developers to make the Shard shield work also off of a bank box and allow the selected shard to be changed from moth to month but, unfortunately, my pleas were unheard..........

So, I am deeply sorry to say that you need to have it locked in a House for it to work and that it will only and always, forever, produce tokens only for the shard that it represents. Even if you do not need them, even if they will fill your secures over and over, they will crank out 12 tokens per year all for the same one shard.

Considering that both the shard shield and the transfer tokens that it produces are all account bound, that loaded pack animals are not allowed either, allowing a tad more flexibility I do not see that it would have been that of a big deal.

I know players who decided not to waste a pick on them because of all those restrictions.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

they must be locked down in a house to be used.
the tokens they produce only go one way.

what i do, and what i see most people do, is have all the shields they want for shards they want to go to AND THEIR HOME SHARD all on the wall at their house.

you collect the tokens, including your home shard token.
then you can go away AND get home again.

Click to expand...

And what if one then decides that they no longer want to go to a given shard ?? The shard shield for that given Shard will continue to crank out 12 transfer tokens, account bound, per year, for that shard that the player no longer has interest to go to.

Frankly, given all of the restrictions that they already have, I really do not think that allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to another would have been that big of a deal. And it would have made this reward more enjoyable and not a royal waste of a pick whenever a player lost interest in any shard and wanted to go to another.

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Great explanation Poo.
It's as she says ... best if your going for a visit to have 2 shields one for destination and second for your return flight. Sence I am always fluttering around the uo globe it made sence to place them all at one house with the exception of my vendor house on Atlantic it has a second return shield for Origin. I find the trips fun and great for organizing my vast empire.

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I know MANY players that have picked the Shard Shields. The "Restrictions" some people say are so abhorrent are just restrictions, and once that point can be understood (like restrictions on having a moongate always drop you at a certain place...or a spell do X amount of damage...that kind of stuff...just restrictions) the Shard Shields, in my opinion, are an Awesome addition to the game. I have visited four different shards so far, and been able to bring back stuff like Heritage Tokens etc.

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I know MANY players that have picked the Shard Shields. The "Restrictions" some people say are so abhorrent are just restrictions, and once that point can be understood (like restrictions on having a moongate always drop you at a certain place...or a spell do X amount of damage...that kind of stuff...just restrictions) the Shard Shields, in my opinion, are an Awesome addition to the game. I have visited four different shards so far, and been able to bring back stuff like Heritage Tokens etc.

I think they are terrific!!

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I have no problems with restrictions in general but honestly, as far as Shard Shields, I cannot understand the restriction to not allow the represented shard to change from one month to another.

I mean, let's look at it for sake of the discussion.

Let's assume that all other restrictions stayed BUT the represented shard. Let's assume that contrary to what it is now, the represented shard "could" be changed from one month to another.

The transfer token would still be account bound and thus, not transferable to anyone. As before, only 1 token per month would be generated.

So, what would be the big deal of allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to another, optionally, if the players wanted so ?

I do not see any possible problem. Instead of 12 transfer tokens to Atlantic, for example, over a year a player might get 12 transfer tokens to 12 different shards. So what ??

I still think this change to Shard Shields allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another could and should be done.

PremiumStratics VeteranStratics Legend

I have no problems with restrictions in general but honestly, as far as Shard Shields, I cannot understand the restriction to not allow the represented shard to change from one month to another.

I mean, let's look at it for sake of the discussion.

Let's assume that all other restrictions stayed BUT the represented shard. Let's assume that contrary to what it is now, the represented shard "could" be changed from one month to another.

The transfer token would still be account bound and thus, not transferable to anyone. As before, only 1 token per month would be generated.

So, what would be the big deal of allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to another, optionally, if the players wanted so ?

I do not see any possible problem. Instead of 12 transfer tokens to Atlantic, for example, over a year a player might get 12 transfer tokens to 12 different shards. So what ??

I still think this change to Shard Shields allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another could and should be done.

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I agree with this. I've been playing since 97. I started on Atlantic and AOL, then moved to Lake Austin and now Catskills. I've also played on Chessy, GL, Pac, Orgin, Sige and Sonoma. My last transfer I packed up lock, stock and barrel but had to leave alot of stuff behind on the other shards. I still have druthers about moveing some chars off of the servers they were born on so I reluctantly keep them there and started new chars on my "now" main shard.. Catskills (been there about 2 years now).

I wish they would have make the shields with all the restrictions EXCEPT not being able to choose which shard to go to. It would be nice to pop over now and then to different shards. I don't know why they didn't do that. After all, when you buy a transfer token you get to choose which shard to go to. That would be wonderful if you can take the shield with you where you are going and choose which shard token you want next. For someone that has been dedicated for 15 years IN GOOD STANDINGS.... deserves a gift like this. I'm usually not one to say gimmie, gimmie, but I've been around for alot of changes and burps and hung in there. I'll never forget when Trammel was born.. freezing for minutes upon minutes then telestorming to nowhere LOL. That was fun.

Great explanation Poo.
It's as she says ... best if your going for a visit to have 2 shields one for destination and second for your return flight. Sence I am always fluttering around the uo globe it made sence to place them all at one house with the exception of my vendor house on Atlantic it has a second return shield for Origin. I find the trips fun and great for organizing my vast empire.

And what if one then decides that they no longer want to go to a given shard ?? The shard shield for that given Shard will continue to crank out 12 transfer tokens, account bound, per year, for that shard that the player no longer has interest to go to.

Frankly, given all of the restrictions that they already have, I really do not think that allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to another would have been that big of a deal. And it would have made this reward more enjoyable and not a royal waste of a pick whenever a player lost interest in any shard and wanted to go to another.

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its the same as any other Vetran Reward that you may no longer want to use.
leave it up as deco or redeed it and put it in a chest to collect dust.

no one ever complains that they cant change their Ethy Horse into a Ethy Polar Bear.

no one ever complains that they cant change thier commodity deed box in for a stump.

It appears the OP had his question answered, but I wanted to respond to the side conversation.

I took 2 shields and locked them down in my tower on my main shard. After two VERY profitable and FUN transfers, I have been debating whether to pick up another shield to the very same shard, lol, so I can make 2 trips per month. I would have to get another home shard shield also to do this. If you have homes that span multiple shards, this is a must. In fact, I think this particular reward is sweet gift to Grandfathered homeowners.

My other thought was maybe to take an Asian shard shield for importing rare goods and spices. Such is the life of a mercenary...Anyway, I anquish over taking more vet rewards, as I anticipate something even more exciting for 15 years.
My opinion, this is a fantastic reward worthy of its' stature and use, and I can't see ever regetting this reward like I do that UGLY Boura. Wow I was bamboozled on that one.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

its the same as any other Vetran Reward that you may no longer want to use.
leave it up as deco or redeed it and put it in a chest to collect dust.

no one ever complains that they cant change their Ethy Horse into a Ethy Polar Bear.

no one ever complains that they cant change thier commodity deed box in for a stump.

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Well, there is quite a difference though with most other Veteran rewards, the Shard Shields crank out, one a month, a transfer shield. The Ethereal mounts, for example, do not produce nothing.

The Deed Box ? It is an item which is handy in a house to convert resources into deed for easier carrying.

But that is not even the point, as I see it, the point is simply that I see no downside whatsoever, being account bound and limited to 1 per month, to give to players the ability to make it possible, from one month to another, to change the represented shard.

It does not hurt noone, BUT it can help many players enjoy more the reward, so why not do it ??

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

And I want to be able to get Jewels from my Cat Statue. Or my Fountains of Life.

If they allowed switchable destinations on the shields, then exactly how many Shard Shields would any one Vet ever need? By my math, it would be precisely two of them. Since I would be able to change my destination shard every month, I would never need any more, unless I wanted to travel more than once a month. Then I might need three.

So...since I have been a paying customer since 1997, I want my Fountains of Life to give Wood...and I want to be able to pick exactly which resource I want from which Vet reward in every case. No one would be hurt by this, MANY people would LOVE to have this, and it would sure make it easier on me, since I already used up all my Vet Rewards on Shard Shields!

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And I want to be able to get Jewels from my Cat Statue. Or my Fountains of Life.

If they allowed switchable destinations on the shields, then exactly how many Shard Shields would any one Vet ever need? By my math, it would be precisely two of them. Since I would be able to change my destination shard every month, I would never need any more, unless I wanted to travel more than once a month. Then I might need three.

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That is exactly the point.
With such a change, Shard Shields will finally be enjoyable by both those players who may need them more intensively (they would pick many of them according to their needs) and also those other players who, instead, do not need them so intensively (they will just pick 1 or 2 and just wait month to month to change their destination).

That is, with such a change, this Veterab Reward would be more complete and more fitting to all players who have the active account age to claim them.

So...since I have been a paying customer since 1997, I want my Fountains of Life to give Wood...and I want to be able to pick exactly which resource I want from which Vet reward in every case. No one would be hurt by this, MANY people would LOVE to have this, and it would sure make it easier on me, since I already used up all my Vet Rewards on Shard Shields!

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May I ask a question ?
If the Developers had made the Shard Shields with the represented shard changeable from one month to another from start, would have this bothered much anyone ?

I mean, if a change can make a reward more fitting and more enjoyable what is wrong with asking for sich a change to be implemented ? Why does it have to stick to the original design without room for bettering changes ??

Because it is not "better" for EA and they would lose a larger quantity of transfer token sales. Less sales = less money for the developers = less income for EA = less chance of UO still being here in a year... or 5... or 15.

while I agree with the intention of your post, I think it could cause the Dev's to be more creative in item-sales, as in offering more items, benefiting all. I feel most everything in the game should be purchasable, in which they've a long ways to go. Elders remember the E-Bay days, where an enormous amount of items were sold on a regular basis. Now, on a smaller scale, private websites, offering the same RMT, filling a niche not filled officially.
I'm surprised there isn't an EA vendor store in-game (inside Brit castles come to mind), where items could be seen in real time (vs. a jpg) to be purchased by code or gold.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

Because it is not "better" for EA and they would lose a larger quantity of transfer token sales. Less sales = less money for the developers = less income for EA = less chance of UO still being here in a year... or 5... or 15.

So exactly how is that better for everyone?

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Less tokens ?

How so when all it takes to a Veteran qualifying for the Shard Shields is to pick as many they need for the shards they may be interested in ?

Besides, how many 14th Year Veterans are out there ? One per cent of the existing player base ? If at all, IMHO..........

Furthermore, the Shard Shields generated transfer tokens have another quite heavy limitation over the regular tokens : they do not allow loaded pack animals.......

Nope, I do not agree that allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another would really significantly affect the sales of regular transfer tokens.

How so when all it takes to a Veteran qualifying for the Shard Shields is to pick as many they need for the shards they may be interested in ?

Besides, how many 14th Year Veterans are out there ? One per cent of the existing player base ? If at all, IMHO..........

Furthermore, the Shard Shields generated transfer tokens have another quite heavy limitation over the regular tokens : they do not allow loaded pack animals.......

Nope, I do not agree that allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another would really significantly affect the sales of regular transfer tokens.

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I disagree totally...

It is not a question of how many 14th year veterans there are... it is a question of how many 14 year old accounts there are that are with the original owner, or traded, gifted, or purchased. I think there are a lot more out there than you do.

Also, a younger player is still developing on their home shard. It is the well-established players that are doing transfers.

I think it would have a larger impact and by opening it up the way you suggest, you'd take a good chunk of revenue from the tokens.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

I think it would have a larger impact and by opening it up the way you suggest, you'd take a good chunk of revenue from the tokens.

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Really ?

My guess is that the players having accounts eligible to claim Shard Shields have no probems, in most cases, to claim all the Shard Shields for the Shards they may want or need.

That is, most Veterans are already all set with the way the Shard Shields work now. Which means, they are already in much less need for any regular transfer token.

So, I fail to understand, how would allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to the other, change their needs for regular transfer tokens when they already, with the current rules, have not much needs for regular transfer tokens ??

Furthermore, when I guessed the number of 14th Year Veteran account active as 1% of the player base, I did not mean only original players, but also accounts traded and blah blah.

Bottom line is, I do not think that the number of accounts using Shard Shields is significant in any way on the overall number of active subscriptions for Ultina Online. This means, that the problem with regular transfer tokens I see it as a non problem given, to my opinion, the extreme low number of these veteran accounts eligible for Shard Shields.

the whole 'ummph' behind having veteran rewards is to give people a reward for playing for years, and to give people who aren't there yet a extra reason for staying.

the gifts aren't meant to be godly and game ending.
just a perk.

if you make the shields changeable then they will be TOO good.
i know a fella who hasn't collected any of his rewards on his 14.5 year account. so he could swoop in and get pretty much every shield if he wanted too. but then there is me, as soon as i was able to get my shields i picked up 2.
now im excited and waiting to get my next two.

and THAT is how veteran rewards SHOULD be.
you should be doing the excited peepee dance from foot to foot in anticipation of getting the next one.

if we changed them so that we could change them monthly then id already be bored with them.

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Tikitack I do many world tours wiht my set on origin.. I do have 2 atlantic and 2 origin shields just cause I wanted to be able to do 2 trips if needed you know for those times when you just have that perfect batch of goodies on your off shard(s) so I can split up the runs and hae a 2 trip set up... now for that average player it might be good for just setting up your trips in a line such as from home shard to shard 2 then a few later go to shard 3 and then when your done go home via the home shard token. Now if your doing massive moving of items the transfer token is still the better purchase... yes I still use them even with the shields... uo was very smart to limit the carrying capasity of the transferee.
To note thou I did put up a second day tripper on my 2nd account for the not so visited shards... I suspect the tokens will pile up on a few but I am willing to do so as its well worth the reward for the small trips.

Now as for Popps.........

Look sugar the shard shields are good as is, and I for one am thankfull they gave them out. I was not a silly nilly and saved up rewards on my main accounts to the tune of over 40 at 14years. Many have been loosy goosy with theirs and I cant fault them for being so as with many things UO has given us. But there is a glut of items selling for cheap that people changed their tune after making them. To allow the shields to change types would not be a good idea. Even though I see 1 or 2 of my shields sitting full of tokens later on I see their wisdom in it.
IF the shields were allowed to be set as you suguest I can see players setting all in one month to one shard and then shifting them the next shard and skipping out on paying for a full transfer thus cutting UO's revenue to squat. It is all in the angle you look at it. Yes some day I wont need a shield to say ... legends but honestly by then another year will pass and more choices will be here...

But I would like to ask the Dev to consider upping the 15th reward choices from the 2 we usualy get to perhaps 3 -5.... with all the nice things on the lit over the last few years 2 just dont cut it for choices..hehe

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My guess is that the players having accounts eligible to claim Shard Shields have no probems, in most cases, to claim all the Shard Shields for the Shards they may want or need.

That is, most Veterans are already all set with the way the Shard Shields work now. Which means, they are already in much less need for any regular transfer token.

So, I fail to understand, how would allowing the represented shard to be changed from one month to the other, change their needs for regular transfer tokens when they already, with the current rules, have not much needs for regular transfer tokens ??

Furthermore, when I guessed the number of 14th Year Veteran account active as 1% of the player base, I did not mean only original players, but also accounts traded and blah blah.

Bottom line is, I do not think that the number of accounts using Shard Shields is significant in any way on the overall number of active subscriptions for Ultina Online. This means, that the problem with regular transfer tokens I see it as a non problem given, to my opinion, the extreme low number of these veteran accounts eligible for Shard Shields.

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popps i would guess, older account always have had a premium to trade sell so i would put total at near 20 to 40 percent over 10 years,just look at posters most of us been here that long on main poster accounts or alts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

the whole 'ummph' behind having veteran rewards is to give people a reward for playing for years, and to give people who aren't there yet a extra reason for staying.

the gifts aren't meant to be godly and game ending.
just a perk.

if you make the shields changeable then they will be TOO good.
i know a fella who hasn't collected any of his rewards on his 14.5 year account. so he could swoop in and get pretty much every shield if he wanted too. but then there is me, as soon as i was able to get my shields i picked up 2.
now im excited and waiting to get my next two.

and THAT is how veteran rewards SHOULD be.
you should be doing the excited peepee dance from foot to foot in anticipation of getting the next one.

if we changed them so that we could change them monthly then id already be bored with them.

always leave people wanting more.

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I fail to understand, why would players do the "happy dance" while waiting a month, to get the same exact transfer token, account bound, over and over and over and over, forever, and not do the happy dance while waiting for their month to go through to get an account bound transfer token for a shard other than the one that they visited last month.......

I do not know others, but personally, when I do the same thing or visit the same place over and over and over, I get bored. On the contrary, if I change and get to see new places (shards...), my "happy dance" would be happier during that 30 days wait period..........

So no, I cannot possibly agree with you. I think that allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another would be just a positive change without any negatives. It would enhance players enjoyment of the game without bringing in much negatives.

I fail to understand, why would players do the "happy dance" while waiting a month, to get the same exact transfer token, account bound, over and over and over and over, forever, and not do the happy dance while waiting for their month to go through to get an account bound transfer token for a shard other than the one that they visited last month.......

I do not know others, but personally, when I do the same thing or visit the same place over and over and over, I get bored. On the contrary, if I change and get to see new places (shards...), my "happy dance" would be happier during that 30 days wait period..........

So no, I cannot possibly agree with you. I think that allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to another would be just a positive change without any negatives. It would enhance players enjoyment of the game without bringing in much negatives.

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i get the feeling that whatever they would bring into the game would meet with your disapproval.

if they gave you a car you'd complain the tires where round and not triangles.
when its obvious to everyone else that round tires are better and work better.
but you'd still put up plugs for triangles tires.

and you say above you get bored fast.
think how bored you'd get if they changed the shields to be changeable every month.
you would have already chucked yours into a chest somewhere and would be pancakes about that as well.

always leave them wanting a little bit more.
they say that for a reason.
because it works!

I tried hard asking the Developers to make the Shard shield work also off of a bank box and allow the selected shard to be changed from moth to month but, unfortunately, my pleas were unheard..........

So, I am deeply sorry to say that you need to have it locked in a House for it to work and that it will only and always, forever, produce tokens only for the shard that it represents. Even if you do not need them, even if they will fill your secures over and over, they will crank out 12 tokens per year all for the same one shard.

Considering that both the shard shield and the transfer tokens that it produces are all account bound, that loaded pack animals are not allowed either, allowing a tad more flexibility I do not see that it would have been that of a big deal.

I know players who decided not to waste a pick on them because of all those restrictions.

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I agree. I could care less about shard trading. I think it was a pathetic move to allow it. It creates a paradox of that of the imagination that is an abomination.

Think about it. I could just create another character. So, basically these shields don't really do anything at all. So, right there, they are disfunctional. So, basically, it comes down to wanting to move a particular character for a visit. So, now they expect me to have 12 of these things.

How do I even know if I want to go to another shard? What if I pick a shard and it ends up sucking. So, now my Vet Reward sucks.

I'm not going to waste my Vet Reward on something as worthless as this. If it changed I might consider it and if EA thinks they are making money, that's a joke. I actually punish companies for this type of behavior. For example: If I think a company is doing well and i'm pleased, I will pay full price. If I think it's a bad product, I will wait until the price drops and then buy. If a company tries to scam me, like with transfer tokens, I will refuse to buy any and I will keep a watch to make sure that if I have the opportunity to punish the company, I will do so.

So, they might be making money off of some sucker but people that are getting wise to this BS, are going to turn the tables right back on them.

They're losing money or in my opinion, should be because of the quality of their game. I mean, let's face it, what company sits around, creates an item and then says, this is a great idea, this will be wonderful to add to the game but what can we do to make it suck so no one will use it or want it, except for people who don't understand, it's just some kind of scam to control your decisions and choices and take away your freedoms.

I mean, really, I don't want to go to another shard anyway. Just let them die. I mean this is a great idea to stop people from helping another closed door programmed into the game with the same idea of self destruction that merely limits the bounds of the company itself. I mean, really, what control do they have over me by making me pay for a token, they're simply saying, either pay or don't go. You have to be an idiot to pay. Now you drive up prices, take away everybody elses chance to do anything fun.

Who cares. We pay for what we get, I guess and really who would want to pay for something that really gives you no options. To me, this is like buying a car without the engine or trying to ride a bike without tires. I think i'll pass on this completely just to show my appreciation.

But you know, you can't really blame the Devs because at least they try and after all this is just an opinion.

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i get the feeling that whatever they would bring into the game would meet with your disapproval.

if they gave you a car you'd complain the tires where round and not triangles.
when its obvious to everyone else that round tires are better and work better.
but you'd still put up plugs for triangles tires.

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The way I see it, I can never agree with "that's the meal eat it or starve".... not at least when I think that meal can be adjusted to make it more tasty and more enjoyable to eat..........

Infact,

and you say above you get bored fast.
think how bored you'd get if they changed the shields to be changeable every month.
you would have already chucked yours into a chest somewhere and would be pancakes about that as well.

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Why only cater one type of players (those needing transfer between 2 or at most 3 same shards) when a small change (allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to the other...) can also please a totally different type of players -those who have no interest in visiting always the same shard(s) but would enjoying hopping every other month to a different shard- ?

always leave them wanting a little bit more.
they say that for a reason.
because it works!

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No, it does not work IMHO, not in this case, at least.

Why ?

Because I think, as I said above, that those Veteran players who have no interest in hopping various shards, but stick to go back and forth between the same 2 or 3 shards are fine as they are with the way Shard Shields currently work. They simply have no need to desire more because they are all set as things are now.

On the other end, those Veteran players who, instead, have no interest in going back and forth always between the same few shards, they are left out of the equation, as I see it.

So, this is not a matter of players being left wanting more, as I see it, but this is a scenario of a set of players being pleased entirely in their needs/wishes, not really wanting or needing more as far as Shard Shields transfers go, and another, different set of players who, instead, did not get to enjoy the Shard Shield reward simply because they have no or little interest to always go back and forth the same few shards but they more wanted the ability, even if only once a month, to be able to visit the variety of Shards that the game sports so as to meet new friends, new communities and so forth.

And, honestly, I do not see the big deal that it would have been allowing this change. The accounts eligible are only a small fraction and all of the other restrictions really would not make the changing of the shard a problem at all, to my opinion.

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popps
shard shields give me option to go to a shard with more vendors so i can play shard of my wish and still be able to have full content!!!
some shards have no vendors! so now i can go buy items i wish to have, and ability so swap things my shard has in plenty for them and go back to redo again
did i do this pre shard shields with transfers, yes would i do to a new shard hub with paid tokens if no shield too, yes
you are just, in a as usuals a complaint mode, some of us pay play game, within given rules!
my guess is if them made shields give 12 tokens and changeable a month you would find a problem!!
my opinion is you have issues with game and need to re think game involvement!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I mean, really, I don't want to go to another shard anyway. Just let them die. I mean this is a great idea to stop people from helping another closed door programmed into the game with the same idea of self destruction that merely limits the bounds of the company itself. I mean, really, what control do they have over me by making me pay for a token, they're simply saying, either pay or don't go. You have to be an idiot to pay. Now you drive up prices, take away everybody elses chance to do anything fun.

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I think that is the point.

To my opinion, these account bound Shard Shield transfers should have been pointed precisely at those players not wanting to spend money on transfer tokens and thus, not wanting to move out of their shard. If they wanted, they would have spent money on a code for a transfer token and do the transfer.

What is the point of making a reward that is intended at shards mobility to appeal mainly those players who are already transfering between shards ? These players want to transfer between Shard A and Shard B and infact, they have already been doing it buying the existing transfer tokens.

The Shard Shields should have been made appealing mostly to those players who have so far sticked with their home shard to offer them a free opportunity, albeit only once a month, to go out and visit the "UO world" meaning, all of the shards out there, over time, obviously, to meet new friends and community.

This is why I think that allowing the changing of the represented shard would be important and usefull for UO, because it would open up Shard mobility to those players who, up to now, have not wanted to experience other UO realities and "worlds".

I am convinced that the Developers should allow this change to happen and I think it would be a good one for the game.

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popps
shard shields give me option to go to a shard with more vendors so i can play shard of my wish and still be able to have full content!!!
some shards have no vendors! so now i can go buy items i wish to have, and ability so swap things my shard has in plenty for them and go back to redo again
did i do this pre shard shields with transfers, yes would i do to a new shard hub with paid tokens if no shield too, yes
you are just, in a as usuals a complaint mode, some of us pay play game, within given rules!
my guess is if them made shields give 12 tokens and changeable a month you would find a problem!!
my opinion is you have issues with game and need to re think game involvement!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I do not see why the Shard Shield (account bound) transfer tokens must be seen only relating to market and business.

Moving between shards may not just be a matter of looking for an item elsewhere or buying it cheaper, it can also be a matter of wanting to play one's own developed character in another "UO world", against other, perhaps more challenging PvP environment, whatever.

What I am trying to say, is that allowing the changing of the represented Shard from one month to the other, players eligible could finally hop, over time, the various Shards that there are in UO to meet new challenges, new PvPers, new communities.

Those who want to stick moving back and forth the same 2 or 3 shards could still do it, but such a change would open up the game to more fun for several other players who, perhaps, are tired of PvPing on their shard and want to try it on another, and then another, and then another again, from month to month.

Why not do it and appeal and bring fun to more UO players then the current design of Shard Shields offers now ?

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popps
if i wished prior to getting vet reward,to play another shard i ahd option of making a toon or farming 20 m gold, neither was a hard task or game changing i have chracters on a few shards! and i neither play factions or cheat or script gold items, i just play !!!!!!!
so your argument isnt that big a thing, ps i rarely pvp as dealing with children isnt worth time i have to play game!!!!!!!!!!!! but i also have scrolls on shards i choose to play from trading or just farming gold for !!!!!!!!!!!!

the game over 14 years hasnt been and never has been has nots or the have to much is more what i wish to have and working towards!
you get this by questioning and trying to get things made easier, myself and in my opinion, i just play and over time have gathered what i need!!!!

I think it be changed in later revisions. Just as the ethy polar bear is an example, the following year saw release of a touching tool to change it to clear, Shields are in their first year of existence ( think beta ), so I can envision a conversion or modification in the future.

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Because it is not "better" for EA and they would lose a larger quantity of transfer token sales. Less sales = less money for the developers = less income for EA = less chance of UO still being here in a year... or 5... or 15.

So exactly how is that better for everyone?

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Hmm. Don't see too many 15 year vets these days. I really doubt they'd lose that much income. However.. if you do play on 2 shards the shields are very handy. I would still like to pop over on differnt shards instead of buying transfer tokens. Or makeing new chars to bring stuff over after buying a transfer token. And sometimes that dont work because I'd have to delete a charactor to make room to bring one over... although I have maintained 7 accouts for years. The youngest one being when either Orgin or Lake Austin was born. Forgot which one it was. When I created chars on them I enjoyed them so much I didn't want to delete them or close the account. LOL But I do have 2 accts from 97 the 3 from 99 and 2 from the newer shards. Also when my kids grew up and moved out I inhearted their accounts.... LOL the two from 99.

PremiumStratics VeteranStratics Legend

I do not see why the Shard Shield (account bound) transfer tokens must be seen only relating to market and business.

Moving between shards may not just be a matter of looking for an item elsewhere or buying it cheaper, it can also be a matter of wanting to play one's own developed character in another "UO world", against other, perhaps more challenging PvP environment, whatever.

What I am trying to say, is that allowing the changing of the represented Shard from one month to the other, players eligible could finally hop, over time, the various Shards that there are in UO to meet new challenges, new PvPers, new communities.

Those who want to stick moving back and forth the same 2 or 3 shards could still do it, but such a change would open up the game to more fun for several other players who, perhaps, are tired of PvPing on their shard and want to try it on another, and then another, and then another again, from month to month.

Why not do it and appeal and bring fun to more UO players then the current design of Shard Shields offers now ?

I think that Ultima Online would gain from such a change.

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I can see why they are account bound and I'm glad they are. Then it would be TOO rampid for xshard tradeing. Too many bad things can happen.

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I can see why they are account bound and I'm glad they are. Then it would be TOO rampid for xshard tradeing. Too many bad things can happen.

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I have not been asking any changes to the account bound restriction, I am fine with that.

My issue is with the Shard Shields not being capable of changing the represented Shard.

Transferring one's own main character from one's home Shard to another, to have fun PvPing on another Shard and meet a different community than that which one might be used to, to many is not worth the double purchase of transfer tokens. Unfortunately, as Shard Shields are now, not changeable, they force the Vet player to be able to only visit few other PvP communities on other Shards. That is, their ability to have fun PvPing on other Shards gets extremely limited.

Allowing the changing of the Shard Shields' represented Shard from one month to another, would open up for many Vet players the ability to bring their main characters onto any other Shard they may want, once a month, to engage and challenge experienced PvPers on those other Shards for more enjoyment of the game.

Besides, I see 2 components of the design anf functionality of the Shard Shields as contradicting each other.

The fact that they have been designed as not allowing loaded pack animals, suggests me that they have been designed not for merchants who usually transfer loads of items (and need loaded pack animals to carry along) nor for permanent transfers who also need the ability to transfer many items.

But then, if they were not designed for those purposes, given that restriction, I can only imagine that they were designed with the intention to provide to Veteran players the ability to freely, albeit once a month, move onto other shards just to play out those other Shards and have fun on them, meet other Communities, PvP with different players than those they are used to and all that. That is, help those Veteran players who so far have been sticking only on their shard, because of the costs involved with occasional transferring, to actually try out to play also on other Shards.

But if my guessing and analysis is right, then the fact that the represented Shard is fixed, and not changeable from one month to another, contradicts with this occasional and flexible use and limits severely the number of Shards that a veteran might be able to hop to to have fun there challenging the local PvPers and meeting different Communities.

So, is my thinking, if the Shard Shields were intended for merchants then they should have allowed the ability to carry along loaded pack animals. Otherwise, if the Shard Shields were intended for occasional, flexible visiting of other Shards for the purpose of allowing a Veteran to bring their main character to another Shard for PvPing different players, meeting different UO Communities, then the represented Shard should have been allowed to be changed from one month to another. Either of those 2 restriction should have been in play, IMHO, not both at the same one time.

Frankly, I see nothing wrong with making this change possible to happen.

plus the fact that they look kinda cool and it would be a nice feather in the hat to have a nice collection of them lined up along the wall in the house.

its like my collection of Vet Robes.
i dont wear them, never will, cause i like the robes with better mods on them. but i DO like having the entire collection of them on my manikins lined up down my wall.

3/4 of the shard shield reward is functionality.
1/4 of it is showing off how old our accounts are, haha

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plus the fact that they look kinda cool and it would be a nice feather in the hat to have a nice collection of them lined up along the wall in the house.

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Well, allowing the Shard to be changed from one month to the other would not change the line up of Shields a tiny bit if the change is user controlled. That is, the player would have the ability to right click the Shield and if a month has passed, and they gained the ability to change the represented Shard, the Menu gump would have a command for swapping Shard and select a new one. If the month has not lapsed yet, this command would be greyed out and not usable yet.

If the player wants to leave the represented Shard as it is, they would simply not use this optional added feature.....

its like my collection of Vet Robes.
i dont wear them, never will, cause i like the robes with better mods on them. but i DO like having the entire collection of them on my manikins lined up down my wall.

3/4 of the shard shield reward is functionality.
1/4 of it is showing off how old our accounts are, haha

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So, to answer your concern, if coded well your concern would be addressed and players could still leave the Shields be and have them all lined up the wall each representing a different Shard.
Yet, those other players not concerned with this, could be able to change the represented Shard from one month to another thus increasing their enjoyability of the game.

Both types of players would be happy and enjoying the game more fully.

Now, if a player has already 7 developed characters and need them on their home shard for whatever reason, they may have problems moving one of them to another shard, even temporarily.

Hence, the need for some Veterans for an 8th character slot to leave empty for purposes of transferring back and forth from another Shard using the Shard Shields account bound transfer tokens....

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That might be exactly why they were designed as they were. After taking a free reward trip to an off-shard world and suddenly needed at home, the option of "Buying" a transfer becomes a certainty. While part of a Dev's job is delivering liked content to subs, they also have a duty to make money for the company, this fulfilled both.

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For one player with houses all over the place thouse shields are super great. I can send to Hokuto things I need and not have to worry that I cant find what I need there. Or my son has been busy collecting up old items he wants for the Smithsonian desplays...
I have history items all over UO shards... these shields have given me a great deal of help. Now it wont stop my use of Full Transfers, heck I have bought many even after the shields.
They dont need to morph into other shard shileds. Most of us who use them are established on more then one shard. I see them being needed for years to come, especialy if they do open up for more then one house per account.
Popps you missed the whole point of the shields to begin with. They were meant to be used for multi pops back and forth from shard to shard.
Not a one time deal.
Ok I will admit some dont have friends they trust on other shards to place a shield, so thats why many of us have return shields at home to begin with.
I can say I too thought it would be good to change them but after looking at the whole big picture I see the reason they dont.

Lady Storm's post made me to wonder, what if there is no change to shields, what then? I think players will simply develop more creative uses for them. It doesn't have to be only about transferring items, think Skills. If i remember right, just as rewards, Soulstones are account bound, not shard bound. Since limited to 1 house, many skills are not readily needed. On my main (LS), I could zip 50-GM to replace a missing skill much easier than I could on Izumo. I could advance much faster than normal. The downsize is the 'house' requirement, I don't speak Japanese, so being friended to a house to use one is not expected any time soon, but it was just an idea anyways.

PremiumStratics VeteranStratics Legend

but i DO like having the entire collection of them on my manikins lined up down my wall.

3/4 of the shard shield reward is functionality.
1/4 of it is showing off how old our accounts are, haha

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Someone said earlier about the bora's. I think they are a ridable badge of honor when they came out. Ugly? Yep but they show age.
Now If I had to pick a shard to go back and forth on that would be hard because Orgin has all the patches first. But I really liked Lake Austin. I USED to like AOL but it's not unique now (I would say Ledgends but I don't know how to spell it.. HA!!!)
So where would I keep my second shield? Atlantic where some of my oldest stuff is? Or LA where I had set up shop for the longest time? I'd love to go visit all of them... I know. I know.. If I already have chars on them just play them... It's not that. I moved my better charactors to the shard that I play on now. But that means I have 3 craftsmen, 2 really good tamers one so so tamer all on one shard. Would be nice to move the extras around without haveing to buy tokens all the time. I would not mind waiting the montly wait. You can move them sooner than every month with a transfer token... but like I said. I can wait the month.

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Popps you missed the whole point of the shields to begin with. They were meant to be used for multi pops back and forth from shard to shard.
Not a one time deal.

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Not from Shard to Shard, IMHO, but back and forth between 2 fixed Shards.......

If so, this means they were intended for merchants to get on Shard A to buy low and go back to Shard B to sell high and do this over and over every month after every month ?

Really ?

How sad......................

How naive of me to think that Shard Shields "could" have been a good occasion for many players to get out of their main Shard and "try out" other Shards, as many other Shards as possible, to PvP against other players, meet other UO Communities....
This, to enhance their enjoyment of the game and for the better being of PvP in Ultima Online........

Of course, for this to really happen the Shard Shields' represented Shards should have allowed to be changed from one month to another and not be fixed as they are now...........

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Not from Shard to Shard, IMHO, but back and forth between 2 fixed Shards.......

If so, this means they were intended for merchants to get on Shard A to buy low and go back to Shard B to sell high and do this over and over every month after every month ?

Really ?

How sad......................

How naive of me to think that Shard Shields "could" have been a good occasion for many players to get out of their main Shard and "try out" other Shards, as many other Shards as possible, to PvP against other players, meet other UO Communities....
This, to enhance their enjoyment of the game and for the better being of PvP in Ultima Online........

Of course, for this to really happen the Shard Shields' represented Shards should have allowed to be changed from one month to another and not be fixed as they are now...........

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popps what i s your take on pvp in uo ??
what percentage of players do u think care about pvp??
please answer are you a hard core pvper ??

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popps what i s your take on pvp in uo ??
what percentage of players do u think care about pvp??
please answer are you a hard core pvper ??

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PvP is to my opinion, a neglected aspect, unfortunately, of Ultima Online that should be cherished more for the better sake of the game.

Unfortunately, starting from years back, there have been choices that have much hurt this important aspect of UO.

The worst thing that happened to hurt PvP in UO, IMHO, was the Age of Shadows expansion along with not getting rid of cheating in UO.

Not many players care for PvP nowadays, but that has reasons I can understand. Whenever in a game PvP fights are not balanced with open ended outcomes, or when cheating can impact fights' outcomes too much, this hurts PvP as it deters away from PvP many players who would like to try it out but are then deterred because of many problems plaguing player visits player game play.
Anyway, the short answer is that IMHO PvP in UO should get much more love than it does.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

PvP is to my opinion, a neglected aspect, unfortunately, of Ultima Online that should be cherished more for the better sake of the game.

Unfortunately, starting from years back, there have been choices that have much hurt this important aspect of UO.

The worst thing that happened to hurt PvP in UO, IMHO, was the Age of Shadows expansion along with not getting rid of cheating in UO.

Not many players care for PvP nowadays, but that has reasons I can understand. Whenever in a game PvP fights are not balanced with open ended outcomes, or when cheating can impact fights' outcomes too much, this hurts PvP as it deters away from PvP many players who would like to try it out but are then deterred because of many problems plaguing player visits player game play.
Anyway, the short answer is that IMHO PvP in UO should get much more love than it does.

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The way I see it, I can never agree with "that's the meal eat it or starve".... not at least when I think that meal can be adjusted to make it more tasty and more enjoyable to eat..........

Infact,

Why only cater one type of players (those needing transfer between 2 or at most 3 same shards) when a small change (allowing the changing of the represented shard from one month to the other...) can also please a totally different type of players -those who have no interest in visiting always the same shard(s) but would enjoying hopping every other month to a different shard- ?

No, it does not work IMHO, not in this case, at least.

Why ?

Because I think, as I said above, that those Veteran players who have no interest in hopping various shards, but stick to go back and forth between the same 2 or 3 shards are fine as they are with the way Shard Shields currently work. They simply have no need to desire more because they are all set as things are now.

On the other end, those Veteran players who, instead, have no interest in going back and forth always between the same few shards, they are left out of the equation, as I see it.

So, this is not a matter of players being left wanting more, as I see it, but this is a scenario of a set of players being pleased entirely in their needs/wishes, not really wanting or needing more as far as Shard Shields transfers go, and another, different set of players who, instead, did not get to enjoy the Shard Shield reward simply because they have no or little interest to always go back and forth the same few shards but they more wanted the ability, even if only once a month, to be able to visit the variety of Shards that the game sports so as to meet new friends, new communities and so forth.

And, honestly, I do not see the big deal that it would have been allowing this change. The accounts eligible are only a small fraction and all of the other restrictions really would not make the changing of the shard a problem at all, to my opinion.

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Why am I not shocked that popps has taken what is an amazingly well thought out and valuable reward and turned it into an over-analyzed "me,me,me" rant?

It is an extremely valuable and useful reward that is also a great deco. Not enough for you though eh popps?

I cant imagine the discussions you must have had with your parents on Christmas morning or your birthday lol

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